5-bet / push

5-Bet Shove in Poker: A Beginner’s Guide

What is a 5-Bet Shove?

In poker, preflop battles can escalate quickly, especially when aggressive players face each other. After an initial raise (open-raise), a re-raise (3-bet), and another re-raise (4-bet), the next action is the 5-bet. When this move is made as an all-in, it’s called a 5-bet shove.

A 5-bet shove is one of the strongest preflop actions. It usually signals an extremely tight range, often pocket aces, kings, and sometimes suited ace-king. Still, in certain spots, advanced players may mix in a few bluffs to stay unpredictable and apply pressure.

Standard 5-Bet Ranges

By the time a 4-bet occurs, the pot is already very large. That’s why shoving requires hands strong enough to perform well against tough ranges. For beginners, the 5-bet shove should be kept very narrow. Typical hands include:

  • AA (always shove)
  • KK (almost always shove)
  • AKs (frequently, depending on opponent)
  • QQ (sometimes, especially versus aggressive players)

On rare occasions, bluff hands like A5s or A4s are used. These suited aces act as blockers, reducing the chance that an opponent holds premium aces, while also giving some playability if called. However, for new players, bluff-shoving is highly risky and best avoided until they gain more experience.

Example Hand: Playing KK Against a 4-Bet

Let’s break down a situation:

  • Blinds: 1/2.
  • You hold KK and raise to 6 from middle position.
  • The button re-raises to 18.
  • You respond with a 4-bet to 45.
  • The opponent makes a small 5-bet to 95.

At this point, folding KK is far too weak. With stacks around 200 big blinds, the most profitable move is to 5-bet shove in poker. This way, you protect yourself from tricky postflop play and extract maximum value against a wide range. Of course, sometimes the opponent has AA, but long term, shoving KK is the correct play and earns profit.

When to Use the 5-Bet Shove

The decision to push all-in should depend on several factors. Common situations where a 5-bet shove makes sense include:

  • Holding premium hands that dominate an opponent’s 4-bet range.
  • Effective stacks of 100 big blinds or less, where shoving simplifies decisions.
  • Facing overly aggressive opponents who 4-bet too often.
  • Denying equity to speculative hands that would otherwise see a flop.

Key Advice for Beginners

  1. Start with a very tight 5-bet shove range (AA, KK, AKs, sometimes QQ).
  2. Avoid bluff-shoving until you clearly understand your opponents’ tendencies.
  3. Remember that a 5-bet shove commits your entire stack, so mistakes are costly.
  4. Always consider position, stack depth, and the playing style of your rival.
  5. Use equity calculators and preflop charts to study what 2–3% or 5–7% ranges look like.
  6. Keep in mind the psychological pressure: a shove puts maximum stress on opponents.
  7. Practice discipline — better to shove rarely but correctly than too often and lose big.

Extra Thoughts for Deeper Understanding

At lower stakes, 5-bet shoves are uncommon because many players stick to calling or folding. That means when someone does shove, it almost always indicates a monster hand. Strong players, however, occasionally add bluff 5-bets to prevent being predictable.

For beginners, discipline is the foundation. Shove only with strong hands until you are comfortable analyzing ranges. Over time, with more study and practice, you can add semi-bluffs and widen your strategy. But at the start, the golden rule is simple: push aggressively with strength, fold the rest.